Method of applying fittings to ropes



Dec. 24, 1946. G. H. BANNERMAN ETAL 2,412,941

METHOD OF APPLYING A FITTING TO A ROPE OriginaLFiled Nov. 17, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet l Jaw/5 M (ween/v and fiLE/v H Roar.

Dec. 24, 1946. G. H. BANNERMAN ETAL 7 2,412,941

METHOD OF APPLYING A FITTING TO A ROPE Original Filed Nov. 17, 193'? 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I I bweizz'oxss fioeaoxv 54/V/VEEM4/V,

J4ME5 M. CUEEfl/V and 645v H Teal/r.

Patented 95' 24, 1946 v OFFICE METHOD OF APPLYING FITTINGS T ROPES Gordon H. Bannerman, Worcester, Mass, and James M. Curran andGlen H. Trout, Omaha, Nebr., assignors to The American Steel and Wire Company 01' New Jersey, a corporation 02 New Jersey Continuation of application Serial No. 175,165. November 17, 1937. This application June 5, 1940, Serial No. 339,026

1 Claim. 3

This invention relates to a method of applying rope fittings and is particularly concerned with the application of a fitting to a wire rope in such a manner that the fitting is positively fixed against movement longitudinally of the rope when the latter is subjected to its normal operating tension.

By way of a specific example, the accompanying drawings illustrate the application of a fitting in such a manner as to anchor the swinging carrier arm of a wire rope tramway or conveyer against movement longitudinally of the conveyer rope, the various figures being as follows:

Figure 1 is a transverse view of the conveyer rope and one of the arms;

Figure 2 is a side view of Fi ure 1;

Figure 3 is a transverse section of the fitting; Figure 4 is a longitudinal section of the same; and

Figures 5 and 6 are elevations taken in difierent directions of part of the equipment used in the application or" the fitting.

In these drawings, the tramway or-conveyer rope I is made of wire, and supports a series of depending arms of which only one, numbered 2, is illustrated. This arm connects with the rope by way of spaced heads 3 through oflsets i, each head consisting of two semi-cylindrical halves interfastened by rivets 5 so as to relatively loosely embrace the rope 8, whereby the hanger arm 2 may swing relative the latter.

The present invention is exemplified by a lug 8 which is fixed to the rope l between the heads 3 so as to anchor the latter against movement longitudinally of this rope. This lug is in the form of interfitting semi-cylindrical parts having cooperative piano hinge elements 7 on their respective abutting edges through which pins 8 may be driven to effect interiastenlng. The two semi-cylindrical parts of the lug do not directly engage the rope i but are internally recessed, as at 9, so as to retain liners it in such a fashion that the latter ..:e interposed between the parts and the rope l. These liners illhave their inside surlaces helically grooved, as at it, in such a fashion that these grooves fit the individual strands of the wire rope.

A particularly characterizing feature of the above fitting or lug 6 is that it constricts the rope to a diameter substantially less than that diameter to which the rope is reduced by the operating tension which it is designed to normally accommodate. It has been found that by so applying the fitting it remains absolutely fixed relative the rope because it exerts its constricting 2 tendency respecting the latter even when the ropes diameter is reduced by its operating tension.

The rope I is placed under tension at least equaling and preferably exceeding 30% oi its ulti mate strength, the normal operating tension for which it is designed. The liners l0 are, of course, positioned within the lug and should be made from a material that is slightly plastic under pressure yet which has the ability to withstand repeated impact stresses resulting when the lugs pass over the rollers of the tramway system of which the rope is a part. Assuming the lug to be made of steel, copper is a good example of a desirable liner material. Piano hinge elements 7 of the two parts of the lug 6 are so constructed that the holes in the respective elements are slightly out of registration at this time,'registratlon being effected by placingthe lugs between the jaws l2 of a suitable hydraulic jack I 3, these laws embracing the parts of the lug 6 to bring the holes of its piano hinge elements to registration, this constricting the rope. i to a diameter less than that to which it is reduced by the applied tension and permitting insertion of the pins 8, the ends of which are then upset, to retain them in position. Pressure exerted by the jaws I2 is sufficient to cause the copper liners to flow slightly and creep between the individual wires of the strands of the rope I.

The advantage of the resulting installation respecting the ability of the lug 6 to remain fixed in position even when the rope I is tensioned so that its diameter slightly reduces has already been mentioned. A further advantage is that a wire rope even when it has a wire center or core is subject to some internal wear whereby its diameter is continuously reduced during service.

Due to the fact that the lug 6 is constricting the rope to a diameter considerably smaller than its normal diameter, the lug does not loosen even when such internal wear reduces the ropes diameter. Due to the fact that external wear is occurring on the portions of the rope not protected by the lug 6, the service life of the rope reaches its end prior to the time the internal wear of the rope within the lug 8 causes loosening of the latter.

It is to be understood that the external wear mentioned is caused by the rope irictionally working against various surfaces, such as that of the sheave l4 illustrated in the drawings.

This application is a continuation 01' our copending application of the same title, bearing Serial No. 175,165 and filed November 17, 1937.

3 We claim:

A method of applying a, fitting to a rope, said a3 ing tension for which the same is designed, and said method being further characterized in that the latter is applied to said rope while the same is so tensioned so as to constrict said rope with a. force sufllcient tostill further reduce its normal diameter.

aoRnoN H. BANNERMAN. J M. CURRAN. 

